Free Melt: 100 Amazing Adventures in Grilled Cheese by Shane Sanford Kearns Page A

or your fingers, dig out the required seeds, or jewels, for this grilled cheese recipe. Munch on the remaining seeds as a healthy snack.

     
Apple Pie

    Apple Pie
Serves 1
    1 ⁄ 3 large ciabatta, 12" total (4 inches in length)
    3 tablespoons sweet butter, divided
    1 golden delicious apple, unpeeled and thinly sliced
    1 tablespoon + 3 ⁄ 4 teaspoon brown sugar, divided
    1 tablespoon white sugar
    1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon cinnamon
    1 ⁄ 4 pound MT TAM cheese by Cowgirl Creamery
    Walnuts, to taste (optional)
    1 ⁄ 2 graham cracker, cracked into small to medium-sized pieces
    Apple pie is as American as … well … apple pie. But in this sandwich, it goes gourmet with a distinctive organic cheese from Cowgirl Creamery that works to add a creamy texture and earthy flavor. If you are unable to find MT TAM cheese in your area, replace with either brie or Camembert cheeses.
Slice ciabatta horizontally. Discard top or save for another use.
In a sauté pan on medium heat, cook 2 tablespoons sweet butter, apple slices, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon, continually stirring. Cook until apples are limp and mixture has a syrupy consistency, approximately 10 minutes. Do not drain. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spread 1 tablespoon of sweet butter on bread, followed by 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon of brown sugar, MT TAM cheese, cooked apples, and syrup from pan. Crush walnuts on top if desired, followed by cracked graham cracker. Sprinkle 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon of brown sugar on top of sandwich.
Bake sandwich on a baking sheet for 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and serve hot.
    Tips from the Stovetop
    Apple pie is routinely served “à la mode,” or with ice cream. Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream on top of this apple pie grilled cheese for an even more delectable dessert.

     
Pineapple Brown Butter
Serves 1
    2 tablespoons butter
    1 ⁄ 3 cup canned pineapple chunks
    2 slices chocolate kuchen bread
    1 ⁄ 2 cup shredded brick cheese
    Caramelizing onions is a common practice that adds great flavor to any creation. But this awesomely sweet grilled cheese recipe calls for caramelized butter, which adds a rich, sophisticated, nutty flavor to the sandwich. This technique is less common, but the payoff is well worth it!
In a sauté pan, sauté butter on medium heat, whisking until the butter begins to change colors and emits a nutty flavor. Be careful not to burn.
Add pineapple to butter, cooking only for a couple of minutes, giving time for the pineapple to be completely covered in the butter.
Drain pineapple, saving browned butter liquid.
Brush the browned butter on the outside of the 2 slices of bread. In a new, unheated sauté pan, place 1 slice of bread butter side down. Place the pineapple on the bread, followed by the shredded brick cheese. Place other slice of bread on top, butter side up. Turn burner to medium heat.
Let sandwich cook for 3–5 minutes per side or until bread is golden brown.
Cut on the diagonal and serve warm.

     
Cinnamon Kiwi
Serves 1
    2–4 tablespoons melted sweet butter, for grilling
    2 slices cinnamon or chocolate kuchen bread
    1 ⁄ 2 cup shredded Havarti cheese
    1 ⁄ 2 – 2 ⁄ 3 kiwi, sliced and peeled, depending on taste
    1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon raisins
    Caramel syrup, to taste
    It’s not often that you’ll find the kiwi playing a starring role. Perhaps due to its subtle flavor, it usually takes a backseat to stronger players, but not in this recipe! Here, kiwi steps forward to take its rightful place in the spotlight, backed by the sweet tastes of raisins, caramel, and Havarti cheese. This sandwich doubles as a meal or a dessert, so treat yourself to a kiwi delight.
Brush the melted butter on the outside of the 2 slices of bread. In an unheated sauté pan, place 1 slice of bread butter side down, followed by the shredded Havarti, kiwi, and raisins. Drizzle, to taste, caramel on top. Place other slice of bread on top, butter side up. Turn burner to medium heat.
Let sandwich cook for 3–5 minutes per side or